Feeding mechanism for wire stitching or stapling machines



D. A. FLAVELL.

FEEDING MECHANSM FOR WIRE STITCHING 0R STAPLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION man Nov.12,1s2x. 1,429.23@ Patentedsept- 19, 1922'.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

D. A. FLAVELL. FEEDING NIECHANISIVI FUR WIRE STITCHING 0R STAPLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. l2, 192|.- 1,429,230.

5| I T I I I r I T D. A. ELAVELL. A FEEDING MECHANISIVI FUR WIRE STITCHING 0R STAPLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1921.,

APPLICATION FILED NOV-12,192I.

y) m4. AU.. ma d Q .m .u J m MU D1 @11 is @Hoi/WMP u. A. FLAVELL. FEEDING MECHANISM FUR WlR STITCHING 0R STAPLING MACHINE-S.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. l2, 1921. y 3,429,230, I PatentedSept. i9, 1922.

@Zim

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Patented Sept. i9, 192.2.r

narrare` stares enana earner'neef-inea. :jj

DENIS A. ELAVELL, or JERSEY CITY, rNEW JERSEY, Assrcflvon 'ro BERNARD COMPANY or N. J., 0E JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY,4 A FIRMv COMPOSED TOE THEODOEE BERNARD AND DENIS A. FIL. iVEliiL.`l

EEEnrNG MEcHnivrsia EOE WJEE STITCHING OESTAPEING MACHINES.' Y L skilled in the art to which it appertainsto.

make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to chai'- acters of reference marked thereon, which v' form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally,l to

book signatures, and the like to a wire stitching or stapling machine..

The invention has for its principal object.

to provide a novel, simply constructed ,and efficient mechanism4 for` automatically and` successively feedingy pamphlets, book'signa.-

tures, etc., to and upon the carrier guide of a wire stitching or stapling machine, wheref,

by the pamphlets, book signatures, etc., are operatively submitted to the latter machine so that wire stitching or staples may be applied thereto to bind or fasten together the leaves thereof.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same. f

lVith the various objects of this invention in view, the same consists, primarily, in the. novel construction ofwork feeding mechanism for wire stitchingor stapling machines' hereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrange-1 mentsand combinations of the various ydevices and parts, as well as in the details of-` the construction of the same, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and then iinally embodied iii the claims appended hereto. y, The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inv which Figure l is an end elevation of the novel work feeding mechanism made according to and embodying the principles of this inven-` tion; Figure 2 is a part section and part sidc an i improved machine for feeding pamphlets,"

lhorizontal section through the discharge end of the mechanism, drawn on an enlarged scale; Figure 5 isa detail ,fragmentaryside view and part. vertical section .of the `said y discharge end of` the mechanism, Figure 6,;

is a fragmentary side. elevation of the/ini,` tial work propellingfdevices of the mechaf, nism, drawn on an enlarged scale; Figure '7 f yis a fragmentarylvertical transverse,sectionA n .taken on line 7 7'` in said Figure .6; and65 Figurer 8 ,is a detail vertical/cross section ofthe cam device for operating tliefinitial work propelling devices, said view being also i drawn on an enlarged scale. K

Similar characters jof .reference are ploye'dgin all-of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to `said drawings, the. reference character. l ii'idicatesa suitable framei lwork upon which the. novelwork feeding 75 mechanismis mounted and supported. l See, cured to said frame-work, at the `upper rean side portion thereof, is a longitudinalrod-- 2,' and supportedv by .outwardly extending@ brackets 3, atgthe rear` side vof said framework, is another ,similar longitudinalrod 4","- which parallels the said first mentioned rod.. 2. Connected ywith andjsiipportedfby said `rods 2 and 4 is -aplfixedframeeplate k5. and f an adjustable frame-plate l6*, tlie lattergbeing 85 movable upon said vrods 2 and 4 toward-.or away from said fixed frame-plate tending between said frame-plates5 and 6 at their outeriends is a'pivot rod 7. Pivotally connected by its outer end upon-,said 90 l pivot rod 7 is a chute-frameB which is 'asso-` y ciated with said fixed fraine-plate 5; and, in like manner, pivotally connectedby its outer end upon said pivot rod isa chiite-.frame 9( which is associated lwith 4said adjustable 95 frame-plate 6. Said frame-plates 5 .andv i are respectively slotted, as at `l0 (see Figure 1), and through said slots project from the vrespective chiite-frames threaded.studswlly.. upon which are engaged clamp nuts 12.9.T he -1,00

cliuteframes thus mounted provide a run,` wayor Ychute inwhich the piles of pamph-g.` f lets, signatures or4 the like are deposited, and through which the same yare movedinto operative relation to the feeding mechanism per se. It will be understood that the runway or chute thus provided is adjustable to adapt the same to the length and width of the pamphlets, signatures 0r the like to be operated upon by the machine, and to this end the frame-plate 6 may be moved toA ward or away from the frame-plate 5 te adjust or dispose the chute frames to correspond. to thelength of the pamphlet or the like to be operated upon, andthe inner ends of the chiite-frames may be raised or lowered to adjust the discharge end of the runway or chute relative to the feeding mechanism per se in coi'respondenee to theI width of the pamphlet or the like to be operated upon.

Mounted in said-'framework 1, so as to be located at the discharge end of the runway or chuteprovided by said chute-frames 3 and ""9, are a longitudinal row of vertical guiderollers 13, against which the pamphlets 14 massed in said runway or chute come to rest.

Journaled lin the lower portion of the franie-work 1, is a' transversely extending main driving shaft 15, which is rotated by a 'bevel gear 25 fixed on the lower end of belt driven pulley 16, or by any other suitable means, or in any other desirable manner.

Means are provided'for moving the pile of pamphlets 14 through the runway or chute above described, so as to keep the inner end of said pile of pamphlets pressed against the vertical guide rollers 13. lThis means is driven from ythe main driving shaft 15, and

the same comprises rollers 17 fixed upon v vertical spindles 18 journaled in bearings 19 connected respectively with said iframeplates 5 and 6. The said frame-plates 5 and 6, and also the associated chute-frames 3 and 9, possess openings which permit said rollers 17 to project .into the runway or chute at the sides thereof, so as to engage and thrust forward the pile of pamphlets deposited therein. Journaled in bearings provided in connection with said brackets 3 is a longitudinal shaft 20 upon which are mounted bevel gears 21 which mesh with bevel gears 22 fixed on the lower 'ends of said spindles 18. The-transmission vmeans intermediate said main driving shaft 15 and said shaft.

20' comprises a vertical shaft 23 which is journaled in bearings connected with the frame-work 1. Fixed on said main driving shaft is a bevel gear 24 which meshes with a said vertical shaft 23. Fixed on the upper end ofsaid vertical shaft 23 is a worm 26 which meshes with an idler gear 27, which in turn drives a spur gear 28 fixed on the end of said shaft'2().

Fixed on the rearward end of said framework 1 is an upwardly projecting bracket 29 provided at vits upper free end with a longitudinal guide ineinbei30 stationed in rear- 'adjusted position on the slide-bar.

wardly spaced relation to the rear end of said row of vertical guide rollers 13. Mounted in said guide member 30, so as to be capable of longitudinal reciprocatory movement therein, is a slide bar 31, to the forward end of which is secured a push-piece 32. Secured upon the upper end or top side of said pushpiece 32 is an expander member 33 which is provided at its forward end with a cain-nosing 34. Said cam-nosing 34 projects beyond and overhangs the forward end of said pushpiece 32, and thesame is provided on its under side and extending rearwardly from its free end, with a downwardlyand rearwardly inclined cam-surface Said ei:- pander meinlbei is adjustable laterally upon said push-piece 32, and to this end the same is provided with a transverse slot through which extends the fastening screw 37 which secures the said expander member to the push-piece. Associated with said slide bar 31 is a lateral stud 38. For 'purposes whichwill presently appear, said stud is arranged for longitudinal adjustment on said slide-bar, and to this end-said slide-bar is provided with a longitudinal slot 3Q througgh which the threaded shank 40 of said stud extends. A'locking nut 41 screws on said shank 40 so as' to bind the stud in desired The means for reciprocating saidslide-bar 31. and the parts carried thereby, comprises a bell-crank 42 which is pivotally connected with or mounted on said frame-work 1. The vertical arm 43 of said bell-crank terminates in a forked or bifurcated portion 44 which straddles said lateral stud 38 so as to operatively engage the same. The horizontal arm 45 of said bell-crank extendstoward said main driving shaft 15. Connected with the free end of said horizontal arm 45 is a translongitudinal rec-iprocatory movement.

Adjustably connected with said frameplate 6, in linewith said expander member 33, is a gauge' piece v49, which may be adjusted outwardly or inwardly, according to the .thickness of the pamphlet 14 to be operated upon,and which serves as a gauge for determining the amount of lateral adjustlment of the expander member necessary t0 be made to properly aline the latter with the pamphlet 14.

Mounted in connection with a suitable bearing frame or bracket 50 supported at the forward end of said frame-work 1 are a pair of vertical propelling rolls 51. 'Said rolls 51 respectively turn in opposite directions, and run in contact one with' the other, the outer roll lbeing laterally yieldablevv by reason of its being journaled in spring backed yieldable bearings 52. Said rolls 51 are positioned adjacent to and opposite the forward end of said row of guide rollers 13, so as to receive a pamphlet 14, when it is moved longitudinally forward along said guide rollers 13 to pass 51, whereby-the said pamphlet is gripped by the latter and fed forwardly and outwardly thereby. Each roll 51 is provided at its lower end with a gear 53, said gears 53 intermeshing one with the other. The means for producing the rotation of said rolls 51, comprises a vertical shaft 54 journaledY in said frame 1; the upper end of said shaft 54: carries a gear wheel 55 which meshes with one of said gears 53, and the lower end of said shaft 5&1 carries a bevel gea-r 56, which meshes with and is driven by a bevel gearl 57 mounted on said main driving shaft 15. j

Mounted on the inner end of said frameplate 5, so as to be end of said row of guide-rollers 13, and intermediate the latter and said propelling rolls 51, is a vertical guide roller 58 which aids in guiding'a a forwardly moved painphlet to and between the propelling rolls 51.

The reference character 59 indica-tes avertically yieldable forwardly projecting arm which is pivotally secured between bearing ears 60 supported on said frame or bracket 50. Said arm 59 is provided at its free end with perforated lugs 61 for supporting a transverse axle 62 upoiiwhich is mounted an annularly grooved expander wheel 63. Said arm 59 overhangs the-upper ends of the propelling rolls 51, intermediate the latter, and somewhat forwardly spaced therefrom, so that the expander wheel 63 will engage the upper forward end of the folded edge of the 'pamphlet 14 as the Same issues outwardly from between the said rolls 51. A leafspring member 611 secured to said lugs 61 bears with its free end upon the outer end of said arm 59, so as to place said arm 59, and the expander wheel 63 mounted in connection therewith, under an upwardly yielding tension.

Secured to the forward work 1 isa forwardly projecting upturned bracket or post 65 upon which is supported the receiving end of a guide-rail 66 which leads to the wire stitching or stafpling mechanism (not shown). This guide-rail 66 is of inverted V-shape in cross-section, and its receiving end tapers rearwardly to provide a sharp'spur or finger 67, located 'adjacent to and in line with the expander wheel 63. Said spur orr finger enters lthe expanded end of the pamphlet 14. as the latter is fed outwardly by the rolls 51, so that the pamphlet rides on its center fold `forwardly upon said between said rollsl opposed to the forward' end of said frameahead, so that a train of pamphlets moves guide-rail. guide yrail, vwhen the pamphlet rides onto the same, tends to open out thetwo halves of the pamphlet froml the center fold thereof., 4so that the center 'fold'is supported in a' proper manner for the insertiontherethrough of the wire-stithes or stapleswhich are to bind the pamphletV leaves together.

`lAssociated with saidA guide-rail 66, adja-r cent to its receiving end are a -pair of pro-. peiling wheels, comprising an upper driven wheel 68 having a periphery concave 'in cross-section, and a lower idler wheel 69 having a periphery convex in cross section. Said idler wheel 69 is mounted onI an axle 7 O supported between the `bearing portions 71 formed at the under side of the walls of said guide-rail; the guide-rail 66 is cutaway to permit the periphery of said idler wheel 69 'to project -slightly above the top edgesur'- face-of the same. The means for mounting the upper driven wheel 68 comprises a pairy of laterally spaced arms'72, which` respectively project said 'guide-rail 66, and outwardly spaced 'from 'the latter so as to permit the `pamphlets to readily pass between the same when they ride onto said i ends of said arms 72 provide bearings for journaling a transverse spindle 73 upon vwhich said driven wheel 68 is mounted.

The inverted \rl-shape ofthe upwardly-on either vside of'` y .guide-rail. The upper Said spindle is arrangedl to `yield upwardly v by naled in a vertically movablebearing block 74: connected with one arm 7 2 and held under the tension of a spring 7 5,' thus permitting thev driven wheel 68, which vcontacts reason of one end thereof being jour-v i oo' with said idler wheel 69, to yield to the passage of a pamphlet betweenv said wheels.v Connected with said spindle is-a pulley V7 6, over which r'uns'a drivingbelt 77, driven by a pulley 7 8 fixed yon said main shaft 15so that the rotation of saidmain shaft is transmitted to the spindle 73-to rotate saidA driven wheel 63,. An idlerpulley 79 mounted on the side of said bracket 65, so guides said belt 77 as to permit it to run under the framework 1. After the pamphlet is the rolls 51 and on to vthe'guide-rail 66 the propelling wheels 68 and 69 grip and feed i the, sameforward on thel guide railkeach succeeding pamphlet pushing .on the one over the guide rail to be successively opermechanism to which said guide` rail leads.

delivered free of j i ilo iao l In operation, the pamphlets 11i are loaded into the runway or chute so that they stand on edge with their folded edge uppermost.` The phamplets thus disposed in the runwayT or chute continually move forward so as'tohold the innermost kphamphlet upright against the row of guide-rollers 13. The gauge piece 4:9 is adjustedjso as to be spaced from the plane of tliesupporting facesplof the guide-rollers a distance equivalent to the thickness of one pamphlet. When the gauge piece 49 is thus adjusted, the expander member 33 isy adjusted on the pushpiece 32 so that its inner longitudinal edge is alined with the outer face of the gauge piece 49,'thus arranging the expander member so as to engage and operate only upon the one or innermost pamphlet. As shown in the drawings, the runway or chute is adjusted to hold pamphlets of maximum length, and the slide-bar 31 is adjusted, relative to the bell-crank 42, to position the push-piece 32 and expander member 33 for proper cooperation with the pamphlet of maximum length. If a pamphlet of less length is to be dealt with, the adjustable side of the runway or chute is moved toward the fixed side thereof, to reduce the width of the runway or chute to correspond with the pamphlet of less length. The guiderollers 13 are removable, and since the length of the row of guide-rollers 13 must be reduced proportionately to the reduced length of pamphlet, a suficient number of said guide-rollers at the rearward end of the row of the same are removed to accomplish this result. The push-piece 32 and expander member 33 must be adjusted forwardly so asto be placed in position to immediately engage the pamphlet of less length, whenthe operative forward strokel of said parts is initiated. To this end the vstud 38 is loosenedrelative to the slide-bar 31, to permit the latter to be moved forward to kcarry the push-piece 32 and expander member 33 to the proper adjusted normal initial position. lWhen such adjustment is attained, the stud 38 is secured again, and the machine is ready for operation. The stroke ofthe push-piece 32 is always the same, whether the machine operates upon pamphlets of maximum length or upon pamphlets o f less than maximum length.` It will thus be apparent that by the above described adjustments the machine may be readily prepared to operate upon pamphlets of various sizes and thicknesses, between certainpredetermined maximum and minimum limits.

The machine having been duly adjusted as conditions require,l power is applied to rotate the main driving shaft 15, and through the various transmission mechanisms, to operate the several moving parts of the machine. The operation of the bell-crank 42 causes a forward movement of the slidebar'31. This forward movement of the slide-bar first carries the cam-nosing 34 of the expander member 33 into engagement with the rearward end of the upper folded edge of the inner-most pamphlet, so that the cam-surface 35 produces a downwardly pushing pressure upon such portion of sai'l pamphlet. The downwardly pushing pressure thus exerted expands the folded edge of the pamphlet thereby producing. an outward sidewise bulge X (see Figure 7) as suchy portion of the pamphlet, thus widening the upper end of the latter so as to assure an end surface against which the push-piece 32 may thrust, and at the same time assuring that only the innermost pamphlet will be engaged and thrust upon by said push-piece. By the time the bulge X is formed, the forward movement of the slide-bar will move the push-piece 32 into engagement with the said bulged end of the innermost pamphlet, and the push-piece 32 continuing its forward movement will. thrust the pamphlet endwise and forwardly along the' guide-rollers 13. The cndwise or longitudinal forward movement thus imparted to the pamphlet, causes its opposite or forward end to move between and into engagement with the propelling rolls 51. Since the propelling rolls 51 are rotating, they will' grip the pamphlet thus thrust between the same, and will thereupon feed the same forwardly'and outwardly toward the spur or nger 67 of the guide rail 66. As the forward end of the pamphlet issues outwardy from the rolls 51, the forward end of the upper folded edge thereof is carried beneath and intoengagement with said expander wheel 63, which exerts a downward pressure upon said folded edge to expand or open up the same from the center of the pamphlet, thus forming a loop y (see Figure which permits the folded edge of the pamphlet toA ride over and upon the finger 67 of the guide-rail 66. As thel pamphlet is .thus caused to ride on to the guide-rail 66 the propelling wheels68 and 69 grip and propel the pamphlet forwardly upon the rail 66 when released from the rolls 51.

The operative stroke of the push-piece 32 being completed, the same is retracted so that as the succeeding operative stroke occurs the above described operations are repeated upon the succeeding pamphlet, and consequently the pamplets are successively withdrawn from the runway or chute, and successively deposited upon the guide rail 66 to form a train of pamphlets constantly moving forward into operative relation to the wirestitching or stapling mechanism with which my novel feeding mechanism is associated.

It will be evident from the above description that my present invention provides a lvery simple and eflicient automatic mechanism for successively feeding forward and opening up pamphlets, booksignatures and the like, with their folded edges properly presented to receive wire-stitching, staples or similar fastening means for binding the leaves thereof together.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the arrangements and combinations of the. various devices and parts as of my invention as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as Adefined in the appended claims. IIence, I do' not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations l of the various devices and parts as described in said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. a v

l. In a mechanism of the kind described, the combination with a propelling means of means for delivering` pamphlets or the like endwise thereto with their folded edges uppermost, a guide rail to which said pamphlets are delivered by said propelling means, and means intermediate said propelling means and said guide rail for expanding the forward portionof the folded edge of each pamphlet as it issues from the propelling means to permit the same to enter upon and straddle said guide-rail.

2. In a mechanism of the kindl described, means for supporting pamphlets or the like massed together on edge with their folded edges uppermost, a propelling means, means' for successively delivering pamphlets endwise from said mass to said propelling means, a guide rail to which said pamphlets are successively delivered by said propelling means, and means intermediate said propelling means and the receiving end of said guide rail for expanding the forward portion of the folded edge of each pamphlet to permit the latter to enter upon and straddle said guide-rail.

3. Ina mechanism of the kind described, a chute device for holding pamphlets or the like massed together on edge with their folded edges-uppermost, a propelling means, means for successively delivering pamphlets endwise from the inner end of said mass thereof to said propelling means, a guiderail .having its receiving endA adjacent to said propelling means, and means intermediate said propelling meansand said guide rail for expanding the forward portion of the folded edge of each pamphlet to permit the'latter to enter upon and straddle said guide-rail. y l

4. In a mechanism of the kind described, a chute devicefor holding pamphlets or the like massed together on edge with their folded edges uppermost, a propelling means, means for successively delivering pamphlets endwise from the inner end of said mass thereof to said propelling means, a guiderail having its receiving end adjacent to said propelling means, and means intermediate said propelling means and said guide rail for expanding the forward portion of the folded edge of each pamphlet to permit thelatter to enter upon and. straddlevsaid guide-rail, andv a second propelling means associated with said guide-rail for vfeeding forwardnin a train the guide-rail.` v t i y y 5.'In` a mechanism ofthe kind described, a chute device for holding pamphlets or the like massesd together on'edge with their folded edges uppermost, a propelling means,

means for successively delivering pamphlets pamphlets'delivered upon said V endwise from the inner end of said mass i thereof to said propelling means, a guiderail upon which said pamphlets are successively deliveredby said propelling means, and an upwardly yieldable expander wheel mounted to overhang the discharge side of said propelling means adapted to expand the forward portion of the folded edge of each pamphlet issuing from said propelling means thereby permitting the same to enter upon and straddle said guide-rail.

6. In a mechanism of the kind described, l

a chute device for holding pamphlets or the like massed together on edge'with their folded edges uppermost, a propelling means, means for successively delivering pamphlets endwise from the inner end of said mass thereof to saidv propelling means, a guiderail upon which said pamphlets are successively delivered by said propelling means,

`an upwardly yieldable expander wheel mounted to overhang the discharge side of said propelling means adapted to expand the forward portion of the folded edge of each pamphlet issuing from said propelling means thereby permitting the same to enter upon and straddle said guide-rail, and a Asecond propelling means associated with of the folded edge of each pamphlet issuing from said propelling rolls to permit the same to enter upon and straddle said guiderail.y

8. In a mechanism of the kind described,

the combination with a pair of opposed vertical propelling rolls of means for delivering pamphletsl or the like endwise thereto with their folded edges uppermost, a guide rail to which said pamphlets are delivered by said propelling rolls, an upwardly yieldable expander wheel mounted to overhang the discharge side of said propelling rolls adapted to expand the forward portion of ln, testimonytllat I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of November, 1921. 10

DENIS A. FLAVELL.

the folded edge of each pamphlet issuing from said propelling` rolls to peniit the suine to enter upon und stiaddle said guideiail, and propelling means associated With said guide-rail for feeding` forward in a lit-messes:

train the pamphlets delivered upon said GEORGE D. RICHARDS, guide-rail.` ADOLPH HANSEN. 

